It's a major milestone for Teerasil and also Thai football

When it was revealed in February that Thai Premier League club Muangthong United and Almeria had reached an agreement over Teerasil’s loan move to Spain for one year, there seemed doubts whether it would make any sporting sense.With all due respects to the national striker’s ability, the move to La Liga, one of the world’s top leagues, looked too big a step up for Teerasil, who, though had won domestic honours, is yet to prove himself on the continental stage during his time at Muangthong.

Teerasil had an eminently forgettable experience seven years ago when he and two other Thai players were signed by English Premier League club Manchester City during Thaksin Shinawatra’s reign as the club owner. Sadly, it turned out to be a publicity stunt by the former prime minister to milk the emotions of Thai people. In fact, the trio had no chance to play in England after failing to get their work permits.

The ill-fated stint in Manchester left Teerasil’s career hanging by a thread as the 26-year-old wasted almost a year without playing competitive football. He was loaned out by City to Swiss club Grasshoppers Zurich where he spent most of his time with the reserve team. 

Such nightmarish experience could easily have left any player, with a dream to ply his trade abroad, in despair, but not Teerasil. He quickly put it behind him after he was given a lifeline to restart his career at Rajpracha club before securing a return to Muangthong for a second spell.

There was no question of his ability in domestic competition as he helped Muangthong win the league championship three times including back-to-back titles starting in 2009. He, however, had little success at continental level, failing in play-off round three times to qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage while Muangthong finished bottom of the group in their only appearance in the tournament in 2013.

Nevertheless, Teerasil earned a unique opportunity to train at Atletico Madrid, Muangthong’s partner club, at the beginning of 2013. The one-month stint in the Spanish capital did not yield a contract and it seemed his dream of playing overseas appeared as far-fetched as ever.

But like a bolt from the blue, Almeria came in to offer the striker another crack at a European league. Signing a player with an unproven record at international level, even a loan deal, must face scrutiny about its merits.

Despite Almeria’s insistence that they have belief in Teerasil’s potential, it is hard to dispel lingering doubts in the minds of people who see that there is something more in the move than meets the eye. However, the Thai forward proved the doubters wrong by earning a chance to play, even a cameo role, against Espanyol last week.

He entered the field for the last quarter of an hour to loud applause and the moment represented a major milestone not only in his career but also Thai football itself. It is early days to say his move to Spain was successful but at least it began in the right way.